A More Whole New Year

A More Whole New Year

  On Boxing Day, I spoke with my mother-in-law. She is 97. I mentioned that my ongoing New Year project is focusing on how to best spend my remaining years and how acutely aware I am how few they may be. She said, “Tell me about it!” She has increasing aches and...
Build Community by Using Shared Values

Build Community by Using Shared Values

  Washington is locked in a political battle that’s bad for our nation. When the opposition blocks action by the party in power — just because it does not want that party to claim any success — the big loser is we citizens. We have serious nationwide...
The Popcorn Wars — A Movie

The Popcorn Wars — A Movie

  Conflicting cultural norms and expectations can spring up in unexpected places. Spilled movie-popcorn led me to rethink some lifelong assumptions and question my wisdom. Scene (Part I): Conflict in the Lobby It’s pre-COVID. I’m at the movie theater with my...
Consensus Decisions

Consensus Decisions

  Several of you asked to hear more about the non-adversarial traditions of native Hawaiians and American Indians described in my last blog — alternatives to the U.S. adversarial decision-making process. Let’s dive in and I’ll explain. First, a recap. For 30...
Toppling Real Monuments

Toppling Real Monuments

  While we are toppling monuments, let’s topple the biggest obstacle to equality — our adversarial public decision process. It enables the powerful, disenfranchises the weaker, fosters divisiveness, and destroys trust. How dare I question this sacred cow of...